Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Broyles goes to conventions. Yawn.

Well, credit to Knox County Commission Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith for tooling a couple of media outlets into reporting that Commissioner Amy Broyles – one of his political foes – goes on trips.

Yes, trips that he as a commissioner approved when he blindly
– like most commissioners – approved the budget.

(Course R. Larry
managed to chalk up some folding paper for a trip to Nashville when he probably could have
just picked up a phone, but who’s counting?)

Now, before I really get into it, this entry isn’t to
disparage R. Larry. It’s just a look at the inside baseball of politics and how
it works sometimes. I don’t really have a dog in this fight. Personally, I
never saw the story in the story. Hell, I told R. Larry that months ago.

In fact, we reported the real story. It wasn’t what Broyles
attends, but rather what she doesn’t: meetings. Now THAT was the story.

Anyhoo, I digress.

Back to R. Larry.

Politically, it was an interesting move. On one end it was
savvy that he convinced some reporters to That’s usually smart politics.

Photo by Dan Andrews

Politically, it was an interesting move. On one end it was savvy that he convinced some reporters to (in my opinion) cover a non-issue, so
he can use that as ammo when he talks about it during Tuesday’s work session.
(R. Larry put this on the agenda to discuss. No, really.)

But, not this time. This time he pretty much insulted women
everywhere.

According to the News Sentinel: Broyles “the lone female commissioner, went
with Knoxville’s first female mayor, Madeline Rogero, to hear her speak in
Nashville at the Tennessee Economic Council on Women.”

Also, credit to KNS reporter Gerald Witt. In his lede
sentence, he notes that Smith “is targeting” Broyles. WATE’s story made it out
like there was some huge uproar of officials. No, folks. It was one official.

Smith’s move pretty much killed any chance he had at a
school board seat. Most teaches are women. Yeah, they vote.

The good commissioner, according to Witt, also said
commissioners “should enter office ready to do the job.

“If I decide that I want to run for County Commission,” he
told the paper, “I know what it all entails. I know there are large budget
items.”

Smith also is rumored to run for the Register of Deeds gig
next year. I wonder if he – or anyone else who is thinking about challenging
Sherry Witt (no relation to Gerald) – knows what it entails.

Does he know how to oversee $2 billion in real estate
transaction each year? What about $4.5 billion in lending?

Again, not to disparage R. Larry. But rather to point out
what is no doubt going to be political ammo when he decides to run for office
next time.

It’s also probably a lesson to Broyles (not that she will
care): Next time the commission chairmanship is up, don’t nominate someone
other than R. Larry.

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the glass is usually half empty

My name is Mike Donila and I'm a reporter with WBIR in Knoxville, TN. I cover government. All politics is local, and mostly ridiculous. Travis Fain of Lucid Idiocy said that. He's a smart guy. This is my blog. The content ranges.